[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10560-10561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4292]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA160


Marine Mammals; File No. 15530

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Robin Baird, PhD, Cascadia 
Research, 218 [frac12] W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, has applied in 
due form for a permit to take marine mammals in the Pacific Ocean for 
the purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or 
before March 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 15530 from the list of available applications.
    These documents are also available upon written request or by 
appointment in the following office(s): See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Written comments on this application should be submitted to the 
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address 
listed below. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713-
0376, or by e-mail to [email protected]. Please include the 
File No. in the subject line of the e-mail comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 
Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be 
appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Morse or Carrie Hubard, (301) 
713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking 
and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222-226), and the Fur Seal 
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
    Dr. Baird proposes to conduct research on forty species of 
cetaceans and unidentified mesoplodon and baleen species in all U.S. 
and international waters in the Pacific Ocean, including Alaska, 
Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, and other U.S. territories. 
Eight of the forty species to be targeted for research are listed as 
endangered or have a stock listed as endangered: blue whale 
(Balaenoptera

[[Page 10561]]

musculus), fin whale (B. physalus), humpback whale (Megaptera 
novaeangliae), right whale (Eubalaena japonica), sei whale (B. 
borealis), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Cook Inlet stock, 
killer whale (Orcinus orca) southern resident stock, and sperm whale 
(Physeter macrocephalus). The false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) 
Hawaiian insular stock is proposed for listing under the ESA. Seven 
species of pinnipeds may be incidentally harassed from research 
activities, including three species listed as endangered: Steller sea 
lions (Eumetopias jubatus), Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus 
townsendi), and Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi). The 
purposes of the proposed research are to study: (1) Population size and 
structure, (2) range and movement patterns, (3) diving and night-time 
behavior, (4) social organization, (5) feeding ecology, and (6) disease 
monitoring. Harassment of all species of cetaceans may occur through 
vessel approach for sighting surveys, photographic identification, 
behavioral research, opportunistic sampling (breath, sloughed skin, 
fecal material, and prey remains), and aerial over-flights for the 
purpose of locating animals and conducting aerial validation studies. 
All cetaceans species (except harbor porpoise, right whales, and Cook 
Inlet beluga whales) and unidentified mesoplodon and baleen species 
would be dart and/or suction-cup tagged. Import and export of marine 
mammal prey specimens, sloughed skin, fecal and breath samples obtained 
is requested for research purposes. Research would occur over a five-
year period.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a draft environmental assessment (EA) has 
been prepared to examine whether significant environmental impacts 
could result from issuance of the proposed scientific research permit. 
The draft EA is available for review and comment simultaneous with the 
scientific research permit application.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
    Documents may be reviewed in the following locations:
    Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone (301) 713-2289; fax (301) 427-2521;
    Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 
1, Seattle, WA 98115-0700; phone (206) 526-6150; fax (206) 526-6426;
    Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 
(907) 586-7221; fax (907) 586-7249;
    Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802-4213; phone (562) 980-4001; fax (562) 980-4018; and
    Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700; phone (808) 973-2935; fax (808) 973-2941.

    Dated: February 18, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4292 Filed 2-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P